Benjamin
Franklin
on the
Rattlesnake
as a Symbol of
America
Franklin
on the
Rattlesnake
as a Symbol of
America
The following letter from "An American Guesser"
was published in the Pennsylvania Journal on December 27, 1775. Its author has been identified
as Benjamin Franklin.
Written after fighting had begun between the
Colonists and the British, but before the Declaration
of Independence, it gives us a glimpse into
Franklin's observant mind.
The rattlesnake shown here is on the $20 bill
issued in 1778 by Georgia. The Latin motto
(Nemo me impune lacesset) means, "No one
will provoke me with impunity."
| I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, "Don't tread on me." As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America; and as I have nothing to do with public affairs, and as my time is perfectly my own, in order to divert an idle hour, I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device – I took care, however, to consult on this occasion a person who is acquainted with heraldry, from whom I learned, that it is a rule among the learned of that science "That the worthy properties of the animal, in the crest-born, shall be considered," and, "That the base ones cannot have been intended;" he likewise informed me that the ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a certain attitude of endless duration – both which circumstances I suppose may have been had in view. Having gained this intelligence, and recollecting that countries are sometimes represented by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her. Historic Range of the Eastern imber Rattlesnake (now greatly reduced due to our extirpation of it's habitat  But then "the worldly properties" of a Snake I judged would be hard to point out. This rather raised than suppressed my curiosity, and having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense.  I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her. Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless , but absolutely necessary to our existence. I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. Perhaps it might be only fancy, but, I conceited the painter had shown a half formed additional rattle, which, I suppose, may have been intended to represent the province of Canada. 'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.  The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, "her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks." |
http://opelikaobserver.com/2015/05/rattlesnakes-as-emblematic-of-america/
Rattlesnakes as emblematic of
America?
May 29, 2015
0
The following is excerpted from a letter that appeared in a
December, 1775, edition of the “Pennsylvania Journal,”
suggesting that the rattlesnake be designated as the official
emblem of America. “I recollected that her eye excelled in
brightness that of any other animal, and that she has no
eyelids. She may therefore be esteemed as an emblem of
vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor when once
engaged, ever surrenders.
“She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true
courage. She never wounds ‘til she has generously given
notice, even to her enemy, and cautions him against the
danger of treading on her. In this she strongly resembles
America. She is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth
with her age.”
December, 1775, edition of the “Pennsylvania Journal,”
suggesting that the rattlesnake be designated as the official
emblem of America. “I recollected that her eye excelled in
brightness that of any other animal, and that she has no
eyelids. She may therefore be esteemed as an emblem of
vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor when once
engaged, ever surrenders.
“She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true
courage. She never wounds ‘til she has generously given
notice, even to her enemy, and cautions him against the
danger of treading on her. In this she strongly resembles
America. She is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth
with her age.”
The letter was reportedly written by Ben Franklin but no
evidence exists that he was the author. And, of course,
when it was written, America had never experienced
anything resembling its defeat in Vietnam or the
unprovoked attack on Iraq during the Bush-Cheney
administration. Nevertheless, the author of the letter
had an admiration of rattlesnakes similar to my own.
I have had numerous experiences with rattlesnakes,
nd only two, the western diamondback and prairie rattler,
displayed aggressive behavior. I have inadvertently
stepped within a foot or so of eastern diamondbacks and
canebrake or timber rattlers on several occasions and
never had one strike or even rattle. They obviously
prefer to be left alone and rely on camouflage for
protection.
Bob Mount is a Professor Emeritus with the
Department of Zoology and Entomology at Auburn
University. He is also chairman of the Opelika Order
of Geezers, well-known local think tank and political
clearing house. He writes about birds, snakes, turtles,
bugs and assorted conservation topics.
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Gadsden Flag
History
The origins of the Gadsden flag
 The seal from a 1778 $20 bill from Georgia. The financial backing for these bills was property seized from loyalists. The motto reads "Nemo me impune lacesset," i.e. "No one will provoke me with impunity." |
By 1775, the snake symbol wasn't just being
printed in newspapers. It was appearing all
over the colonies: on uniform buttons, on
paper money, and of course, on banners
and flags.
printed in newspapers. It was appearing all
over the colonies: on uniform buttons, on
paper money, and of course, on banners
and flags.
The snake symbol morphed quite a bit during
its rapid, widespread adoption. It wasn't cut
up into pieces anymore. And it was usually
shown as an American timber rattlesnake,
not a generic serpent.
its rapid, widespread adoption. It wasn't cut
up into pieces anymore. And it was usually
shown as an American timber rattlesnake,
not a generic serpent.
We don't know for certain where, when, or
by whom the familiar coiled rattlesnake
was first used with the warning "Don't
Tread on Me."
by whom the familiar coiled rattlesnake
was first used with the warning "Don't
Tread on Me."
We do know when it first entered the
history books.
history books.
In the fall of 1775, the British were
occupying Boston and the young
Continental Army was holed up in
Cambridge, woefully short on arms
and ammunition. At the Battle of Bunker
Hill, Washington's troops had been so low
on gunpowder that they were ordered
"not to fire until you see the whites of
their eyes."
occupying Boston and the young
Continental Army was holed up in
Cambridge, woefully short on arms
and ammunition. At the Battle of Bunker
Hill, Washington's troops had been so low
on gunpowder that they were ordered
"not to fire until you see the whites of
their eyes."
In October, a merchant ship called The
Black Prince returned to Philadelphia
rom a voyage to England. On board were
private letters to the Second Continenta
l Congress that informed them that the
British government was sending two ships
to America loaded with arms and
gunpowder for the British troops.
Black Prince returned to Philadelphia
rom a voyage to England. On board were
private letters to the Second Continenta
l Congress that informed them that the
British government was sending two ships
to America loaded with arms and
gunpowder for the British troops.
Congress decided that General
Washington needed those arms more
than the British. A plan was hatched
to capture the cargo ships. They
authorized the creation of a
Continental Navy, starting with
four ships. The frigate that carried
the information from England, the
Black Prince, was one of the four.
It was purchased, converted to a
man-of-war, and renamed the Alfred.
Washington needed those arms more
than the British. A plan was hatched
to capture the cargo ships. They
authorized the creation of a
Continental Navy, starting with
four ships. The frigate that carried
the information from England, the
Black Prince, was one of the four.
It was purchased, converted to a
man-of-war, and renamed the Alfred.
To accompany the Navy on their
first mission, Congress also authorized
the mustering of five companies of
Marines. The Alfred and its sailors
and marines went on to achieve
ome of the most notable victories
of the American Revolution. But t
hat's not the story we're interested
in here.
first mission, Congress also authorized
the mustering of five companies of
Marines. The Alfred and its sailors
and marines went on to achieve
ome of the most notable victories
of the American Revolution. But t
hat's not the story we're interested
in here.
What's particularly interesting for
us is that some of the Marines that
enlisted that month in Philadelphia
were carrying drums painted yellow,
emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake,
coiled and ready to strike, with
thirteen rattles, and sporting the
motto "Don't Tread on Me."
us is that some of the Marines that
enlisted that month in Philadelphia
were carrying drums painted yellow,
emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake,
coiled and ready to strike, with
thirteen rattles, and sporting the
motto "Don't Tread on Me."
Finally,
"I confess I was wholly at a loss
what to make of the rattles, 'till
I went back and counted them
and found them just thirteen,
exactly the number of the
Colonies united in America;
and I recollected too that this
was the only part of the Snake
which increased in numbers. ...
"'Tis curious and amazing to
observe how distinct and
independent of each other
the rattles of this animal are,
and yet how firmly they are
united together, so as never
to be separated but by breaking
them to pieces. One of those
rattles singly, is incapable of
producing sound, but the
inging of thirteen together,
is sufficient to alarm the
boldest man living."
 |
Many scholars now agree that this
"American Guesser" was Benjamin
Franklin.
"American Guesser" was Benjamin
Franklin.
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